Team Stats

Passing Yards

Rushing Yards

Turnovers

Time of Poss.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Will this be one of those games for the ages?
It could be, if Tennessee Tech is successful against Austin Peay in
a 1:30 p.m. Ohio Valley Conference game in Tucker Stadium. The
Golden Eagles can win their first OVC championship in 36 years and
earn the school's first-ever appearance in the national
playoffs.

Fans are asked to wear purple to the stadium in support of coach
Watson Brown's team, which is ranked 21st nationally and tied for
first place in the OVC standings heading into the final weekend of
the 2011 season.

A Tech win would put the Golden Eagles into the Football
Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs for the first time since
they were established in 1978. It would be Tech's first OVC title
since 1975.

And, it boils down to a rivalry game against Austin Peay pitting
two former coaching associates against one another. Brown is in his
fifth season at TTU, while his former assistant coach Rick
Christophel took over at Austin Peay the same year.

In the previous four games between the two long-time friends, each
team owns two wins -- including one home victory and one on the
road. Tech has won the last two games, and owns a 27-17-1 advantage
in the all-time series, but none of that will mean a thing come
kickoff time Saturday.

In addition to all that's at stake for Tech on the field, the game
will be surrounded with several other special features including
Senior Day for 20 Golden Eagles wrapping up their careers in Purple
& Gold.

Saturday is also the game for "Recognizing Academic Excellence" as
Tech has invited Honor Roll students from elementary schools to
join the Athletic Director's Honor Roll students during pregame to
help greet the team when it enters the field. All Honor Roll
students will be admitted free with vouchers distributed through
area schools.

Eleven different teams have captured the OVC football championship
in the 35 years since Tech last claimed the title in 1975 including
former league members Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and
Youngstown State.

Tech comes into the game ranking among the top defenses in the OVC
and among the most effective offenses in the league.

Tech ranks first in the OVC in total defense and rushing defense,
second in scoring defense and third in pass defense. The Golden
Eagles rank fourth in the OVC in total offense, third in scoring
offense, and fifth in both passing offense and rushing offense.

Twice this season Tech has piled up more than 500 yards of offense,
including 566 against Maryville College for the highest total in
Brown’s five seasons at the helm. Tech had 511 yards against
Southeast Missouri. The Golden Eagles have topped 400 yards in
three other games.

However, before the Golden Eagles count any chickens, they must
guard against a letdown with a couple of past games serving as
reminders.

In 1977, Tech and Austin Peay met with the OVC title on the line
and the Golden Eagles dominated the game -- but lost, 24-21. Tech
suffered eight fumbles, losing five of them. The Golden Eagles had
26 first downs compared with nine by the Governors. Austin Peay
finished the year with a 6-1 mark in the OVC and won the
championship, while the Golden Eagles finished second at 5-2.

Just last year, Tech stunned Jacksonville State with a
fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Gamecocks and deny JSU the OVC
title.

Tickets for the game are on sale at the Athletics Ticket Office in
Eblen Center or by calling (931) 372-3940.

The Magic 98.5 Tailgate Park opens at 10:30 a.m. with live music,
and tickets windows and gates will be open at 12:30 p.m.
Honor Roll students are asked to meet on the field under the
scoreboard by 1 p.m.